6 The Catholic News & Herald
MARCHING for life
February 3, 2006
Many from diocese march for MARCH, from page 1
walking and praying for the protection of human life,” he said. Purello said that far too many citizens go about their daily lives “numb” to the staggering number of unborn human beings that “have been lost to abortion since 1973 — at least 45 million by most estimates.” “Certainly the pain of that terrible statistic cannot be forgotten, and that pain was on the faces of many in Washington,” he said. “Yet I could also sense a mood of hope on the faces of those who came to pray together and to rally to support human life.” “It is a hope born in the realization that truth wins out in the end and that, eventually, our nation will see abortion for what it truly is — a terrible choice that ends a human life,” said Purello. The march ended at the Supreme Court building, where nearly two-dozen young people stood with red tape that read “Life” over their mouths. A few angry opponents chanted “Roe v. Wade is here to stay.” Franciscan Sister Clare Matthiass from New York has attended the march for 15 years and has watched the increase in the number of young participants. “The youth recognize that life is worth living,” she said. Sister Matthiass believes many youths realize they would not exist if their parents had chosen to have an abortion. “They are expressing sadness at the loss of their own generation to abortion,” she said. “It’s just such an amazing feeling to be surrounded by people who are as passionate on the pro-life issue as you are,” said Shannon Minick, a Charlotte Catholic sophomore who participated in the march for her second year. “I felt like I was a part of something special; like I was really making a difference and voicing my opinion on a serious
religion teacher Frank Delamere, who has organized the school’s participation for the last 10 years. “I believe it to be one of the most educational trips we offer at Charlotte Catholic,” said teacher Suzanne Albertson, who has attended the march four times. “The students get ... a glimpse of the universal nature of the Catholic Church,” she said. “They walk, not only among teens from other states, but also with clergy and religious orders they have heard of yet seldom congregate and pray with for a common cause.” Before the march, students and others from North Carolina attended a Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 23. The massive basilica was so crowded that many participants had to sit in the aisles and doorways. During his homily, Bishop Jugis asked, “Why does our society fail to welcome the little child?” His answer — our society is lacking in love. Only when we as a nation begin to live and really believe in the primacy of love, he said, would a culture of love be established. Bishop Jugis encouraged the congregation to see the Eucharist as divine assistance enabling Catholics to bear witness to the primacy of love, which by necessity upholds humanity’s right to life. The march began at the National Mall, where Nellie Gray, March for Life organizer, selected a group from Iowa to carry the huge banner at the front of the marchers because of their strong support over the years. “One of the impressions the march makes on me every time I attend is just how diverse this powerful movement to promote human life is,” said Joe Purello, director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Charlotte. “There are many young people, elderly people, people in wheelchairs and people of all ethnic backgrounds — all
Courtesy Photo by Colleen Forcina
Virginia Coyle and Jenny LaBrosse, seniors at Charlotte Catholic High School, stand with other pro-lifer activists outside the U.S. Superior Court in Washington, D.C., during the annual March for Life Jan. 23. matter,” said senior Cameron Bevington, who participated for the first time. Junior Erin Galis, president of Charlotte Catholic’s Voice for Life group, participated in the march for the third time “It is nice to know when you are marching that everyone around you supports your cause of protecting the dignity of life,” she said. Though media coverage of the march was slim, many marchers believe they were making a difference for their society. “I am determined, like the rest of those who participated in the march, to end the disrespect for life that is occurring all around us,” said Galis. Colleen Forcina is a senior at Charlotte Catholic High School. Editor Kevin E. Murray and Catholic News Service contributed to this story.